Adoring pet owners fight for custody in court

NEARLY two million Britons are so besotted with their pets they would take their partner to court to fight for custody if they split up.

PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: 00:01, Sun, Feb 24, 2013

Six per cent of men would be prepared to fight for custody of their pet in court

Women are the keenest animal lovers, with nine per cent insisting they would go to court to keep their pet, compared with just six per cent of men.

Researchers also found 13 per cent of owners are so obsessed they admit they would rather spend time with their pet than with friends or their partner.

Nearly a third of the men said they would be turned off by a woman who owned a snake

Eleven per cent said their pet was the “most important thing” in their life and 30 per cent said they would refuse to date anyone who did not like animals.

By contrast, eight per cent of the 2,000 adults questioned said they would not go out with someone who had a pet and nearly a third of the men said they would be turned off by a woman who owned a snake.

Kate Rose, of website Confused.com, which carried out the survey, said: “Many devoted owners would go to any lengths to ensure they keep their pet.”